Florida Governor and Businessman Pledge Allegiance to Republican Party, But Trump's Support Remains Uncertain
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy have signed the Beat Biden pledge, promising to support the Republican nominee in the 2024 election and participate only in RNC-sanctioned debates. However, former President Donald Trump has not committed to signing the pledge or attending debates.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy have both signed a pledge to support the Republican Party's nominee in the 2024 presidential election. The pledge, also known as the "Beat Biden pledge," requires candidates to participate only in debates sanctioned by the Republican National Committee (RNC) and to honor the will of primary voters if they do not win the nomination.
The pledge aims to prevent division and discord among the candidates and focus on defeating President Joe Biden. Ramaswamy was the first to sign the pledge, followed by DeSantis, who tweeted a picture of his signature from his campaign account. The pledge states that candidates who fail to sign or participate in unauthorized debates will not be eligible for further RNC-sanctioned debates. It also prohibits candidates from running as independents or accepting nominations from other parties.
RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, who imposed the pledge, has also signed it along with the candidates. The RNC set certain criteria for candidates to qualify for the debates, including polling and fundraising requirements. The first debate is scheduled for August 23, followed by a second debate on September 27.
However, former President Donald Trump, who leads in the polls among GOP voters for 2024, has not committed to signing the pledge or attending the debates. He stated that his support for the nominee would depend on who it was. While DeSantis and Ramaswamy have signed the pledge and met the RNC's criteria for the first debate, other contenders, such as former Rep.
Will Hurd and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, have expressed reservations about the pledge. Hurd stated that he would not sign the pledge, citing the possibility of Trump becoming the nominee. Christie called the pledge a "useless idea" and compared it to Trump's lack of commitment to a similar pledge in 2016.
The pledge serves as a tool for the RNC to maintain unity among Republican candidates and ensure their support for the eventual nominee. Its impact on the 2024 Republican primary race remains to be seen, especially with Trump's undecided stance.
